Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby
What is it about? (*some minor spoilers ahead*)
Quinn’s boyfriend Trent died in an accident. Trying to find some sort of closure, Quinn tracks down 19-year-old Colton who received Trent’s donated heart – and finds herself falling in love with him.
OK, but what is it really about?
Trent was Quinn Sullivan’s first love; from that initial awkward encounter and their first stolen kiss in the moonlight to making plans for college, they became inseparable. When Trent suddenly dies, Quinn struggles with her grief. She reaches out to the recipients of Trent’s donated organs as an attempt to move on. The only one who doesn’t respond is the person who received Trent’s heart. Quinn decides to investigate herself and soon finds Colton Thomas – even though she knows it’s wrong, she drives to the coastal city where he lives to see him.
What should be a quick encounter to reassure Quinn and help her in her mourning process, quickly turns into strong attraction between the two. Colton makes Quinn feel alive again and shows her how to make each day count. The more time they spend together, the more enamoured Quinn becomes, but she knows that she has to tell Colton the truth. Like her sister Ryan says, “you need to tell him because it’s the only chance you have for anything between the two of you to be real.”
Is it any good?
Most high school sweethearts do not actually end up together for life – yet, first loves are special. The lying awake at night, the butterflies, the weak knees, the naiveté that whispers promises of forever in your ear. When such a love is tragically cut short by death and not by slowly growing up and growing apart, one may always be trapped in that unshakeable belief that your first true love could have lasted a lifetime. It is therefore no wonder that Quinn wants to hold on for as long as she can, and that she searches for the person that possesses the one thing that had belonged to her for so many years – Trent’s heart.
“Things We Know by Heart” is a story about love, loss and healing, about opening up and second chances. Quinn’s character development is the most memorable part of this novel. The author paints a vivid picture of this young girl who misses her boyfriend every second of every day and is devastated by the fact that she can’t remember the last time he had been over for Sunday dinner with her parents. When she meets someone new, she struggles with feelings of remorse and guilt – how can she fall in love with Colton when Trent was the one who had her heart first? As a reader, I wanted to cheer her on, encourage her to go ahead, but I understood that people mourn in their own way and in their own pace. In the end, Quinn’s realization that it is OK to move on, that it is alright to be happy is painfully sad but extremely liberating at the same time.
Favorite character?
Even though she is only a minor character in the story, I’m a big fan of Gran. She lights up the pages and the Sullivan house every time she comes knocking: determined and feisty, but also kind-hearted and affectionate, especially with her granddaughters. Having lost her own husband, Gran understands what it means to be in mourning and knows exactly if a certain situation warrants tough love, a tight hug or gentle encouragement.
Most memorable quote?
“I fix my eyes on the field of gold as I take the dried flower I am holding and raise my hand above my head. I watch the tall stalks bend and sway when I roll the papery petals between my fingers and release each tiny piece into the breeze. All our firsts, and our lasts, and everything in between. They swirl and dance on the invisible currents, and then one by one, they disappear to a place they will always be a part of.”
Conclusion?
“Things We Know by Heart” is a bittersweet and touching tale. The plot doesn’t have any surprising twists and turns, and the main characters are likeable and young and human – Quinn especially makes a couple of bad decisions, but they are comprehensible, and I don’t hold them against her. After reading a few chapters, one can already guess how the story ends. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy reading this book – I did. Perhaps because I knew in my heart that the author would give me a happy ending – and I really needed one.
AT A GLANCE
Title: Things We Know by Heart
Author: Jessi Kirby
Published by: Harper Teen (2016)
Pages: 304
Language: English